Where can I get the best toilet paper? It really depends on your definition of best. Do you prefer strong, lint-free, soft, vegan, or a toilet paper that dissolves easily?
We’ve all grown up using toilet paper and our preference develops over time. But there are a lot of options out there and most people just buy whatever is on sale.
This can be a big mistake as the cheapest toilet paper can be poor quality and won’t last long. Conversely, buying toilet paper that is too soft and it might break while wiping.
In this article, I’ll provide a breakdown of the best toilet paper for your individual needs. I’ll name a few options; some that are soft, strong, lint-free, vegan, and dissolvable.
Depending on where you shop, toilet paper options can be limited, that’s why we’ll use the wide selection from Amazon. They usually have better prices and free shipping too.
Standard Toilet Paper (Is My Toilet Paper Shrinking?)
If you’re very observant (like a detective) you might have noticed that toilet paper has changed over the years. Much like any industry, toilet paper brands have tried ways to cut costs in order to earn better returns without sacrificing the quality of their product.
For decades toilet paper was a standard size and texture. The size was 4.5 inches square (per section on a roll). Little went into the thought of roll size or comfort. Toilet paper was a simple necessity with little innovation.
In the late 1990’s toilet paper companies began an experiment that continues today. Their mission was simple:
- Reduce the size of the roll to save money
- Observe sales and customer feedback
- Monitor budget to see if there are significant savings
- Keep the cost the same (or increase due to inflation)
In other words, toilet roll companies wanted to see if they could shrink their product, hope their customers didn’t notice and make more money. Guess what, it worked. Few people monitor the size of their toilet paper and the changes were so subtle that most consumers didn’t bat an eye.
To find the best toilet paper make sure you’re observant. Below are a few of the changes that have taken place over the years (obviously it depends on your specific brand):
- 5 inches square
- 5 x 4.1 inches
- 2 x 4 inches
- 4 x 3.9 inches
- 1 x 3.7 inches
For large companies, income from a few rolls of toilet paper doesn’t seem like much, but over time and with high volume, companies can realize huge profits.
Different Types of Toilet Paper
Marketing toilet paper has become a big industry as well. When looking for the best toilet paper pay attention to the size of the roll. There are plenty of terms that are thrown around. Starting with regular, then big, double, jumbo among others.
The size of the roll may seem like a marketing ploy but the
Sizes
When choosing the right size of toilet paper for your household you might think “bigger is better”. It makes sense, a larger roll means 1) longer, 2) less frequent replacing, 3) more ply, and possibly 4) softer.
But there’s a mistake you can make by simply buying the biggest roll. This occurs when the biggest roll is too big for your holder – it gets stuck.
Consider that a Mega roll equals 4x the length of a regular roll and most holders are made for regular rolls. If your holder is not far enough away from the wall then it’s likely to get stuck. Below are the common toilet roll sizes you’ll find.
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Regular
Regular rolls have only 77 sheets and are usually double ply. They are your cheapest option. With regular toilet rolls, you get what you pay for. The quality is usually lacking and although it seems economical it’s much more expensive per sheet than the larger rolls
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Big
Big toilet paper rolls are less common these days because the term “big” doesn’t appeal to households as well as “jumbo” or “mega”. Big toilet paper rolls are around 126 sheets – not quite double a regular roll.
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Double
Double rolls are twice the size of regular rolls about 140 sheets per roll.
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Jumbo
Slightly larger than double rolls.
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Triple
3 times the size of regular rolls or about 210 sheets.
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Supreme
3 ply supreme rolls are made to be silky smooth and comfortable but aren’t quite as big as mega rolls. Supreme rolls will fit all regular toilet paper holders and have an extra ply for softness and comfort.
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Mega
Mega rolls average over 300 sheets per roll and last a long time (sometimes multiple weeks for a family). They are more convenient and require less changing. Mega rolls also are more economical; buying larger rolls saves money compared to buying more regular size rolls.
Texture
Have you ever used toilet paper that was so rough it made you sore? Have you ever used toilet paper so soft it fell apart when used?
Finding the right texture of toilet paper can be a frustrating task. It’s also a personal preference.
Buy the cheapest and it will probably feel like sandpaper. If you buy the softest toilet paper you might end up with lint everywhere.
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Soft
Soft toilet paper is usually 2 or 3 ply and a little more expensive. In my opinion, soft toilet paper is worth it because it’s more absorbent. If you have a septic tank be sure to check and confirm that soft toilet paper will break down.
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Coarse
If you prefer a coarse toilet paper I suggest buying the regular toilet paper rolls. They are usually expensive and rough (though soft enough to work). If you’re willing to go with the most basic toilet paper go cheap!
Colored/Design
If you’re looking for something more unique, or a gag gift, colored or printed toilet paper rolls are a fun option to try.
Unbeknownst to many people toilet paper comes in many colors (you won’t find it in your grocery store). These colors include red, black, purple, and green.
You can also find funny prints on toilet paper such as money, faces of presidents, and games like Sodoku. Know that these toilet papers won’t be the softest or largest but they will look great!
Best Toilet Paper (Size, Strength, Value, Environment, Vegan, and Colored)
#1 Best Soft Toilet Paper – Quilted Northern – Supreme Roll, 3 Ply
Quilted Northern is a well-known American brand of toilet paper. They are known for having soft, luxurious toilet paper. If you want the best soft toilet paper this is the winner.
Highlights:
- Supreme rolls (almost mega)
- 3 ply
- Sewage safe
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative Certified
- Unscented, fragrance-free
These Quilted Northern rolls are supreme rolls – meaning they aren’t quite mega rolls (almost). What separates this toilet paper from the pack is they use a 3 ply system so the toilet paper is thicker than the standard 2-ply. 3-ply is softer and stronger than most.
The company is certified with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and safe for sewage systems and septic symptoms.
#2 Best Strength (No Lint) Toilet Paper – Presto – Mega Roll, 2 Ply
If you’re looking for the best value toilet paper, Presto is the one. You may not have heard of the Presto brand before but they’re gaining a reputation for quality and price.
Highlights:
- Mega roll
- Low-cost yet durable
- Breaks down well in toilets
- Money back guarantee
- 2 ply
- Sustainably managed forests
- Low lint compared to other brands
Presto is actually the Amazon-branded toilet paper. If you’ve purchased Amazon brands in the past you know they offer decent quality and great prices.
Presto’s toilet paper is no different. It is a mega roll 2 ply and they claim to leave behind less lint than the leading brands. The great thing about Presto is they say “if you’re not happy with it, return it for a full refund” (I like that).
It’s made from tree pulp and sustainably harvested from managed forests. Presto is also safe for toilets and breaks down easily once flushed.
Presto is bleached but has no added fragrances. Customer reviews are off-the-charts and seem to be happy about how it works and the value.
#3 Best Environmentally Friendly Toilet Paper – Aria Mega Rolls
Aria’s mega rolls take a different approach to Seventh Generation (below) for environmental conservation.
Rather than use recycled paper to create their toilet paper, Aria harvests trees sustainably (partnering with the Sustainable Forest Initiative) and plants 3 new trees for every tree used for toilet paper – how cool is that!
Highlights:
- Mega roll
- 2 ply
- Plants 3 trees for every 1 tree used
- Packaging is recyclable
- Made with renewable energy
- Balance of comfort, strength, and environmental stewardship
Furthermore, the toilet paper is made with 100% renewable biomass power and the packaging is over 50% plant-based recyclable packaging.
This product doesn’t sacrifice comfort or size. It’s 2-ply and a mega roll so it will last a long time.
Aria is fragrance-free and breaks up well in the toilet so it’s safe for septic tanks and low-flow toilets. Check out the video below for more information on Aria’s conservation efforts.
#4 Best Vegan Toilet Paper (Unbleached) – Seventh Generation – Double Roll
Over the last decade, Seventh Generation has become a household name for household cleaning products. Their toilet paper reaffirms their mission to provide sustainable, natural products to consumers.
Highlights:
- No dyes, fragrances, ink
- 100% recycled paper
- Unbleached
- Double roll
- Great for low flow toilets, campers, RVs, septics
Seventh Generation is the best vegan toilet paper we could find.
It’s 100% recycled and unbleached. It’s made without dyes or fragrances and doesn’t have ink in it either. You’ll notice the color is off-white. This means it isn’t bleached.
The size are “double” rolls so they aren’t as big as the Mega rolls on our list. They are 2-ply so they’ll be strong enough to clean without breaking.
Another good thing about these rolls is they work great for low flow toilets, RVs, campers, and septic tanks. The toilet paper will break up nicely once it enters the toilet water!
#5 Best Colored Toilet Paper – Renova
Are you looking for a fun toilet paper with a nice color? Most people don’t realize they can buy colored toilet paper.
Renova has created a niche for themselves that caters to fashion and color. Make a statement with blue, green, pink, black, or orange toilet paper.
I’ve got to admit they are great looking toilet paper and they aren’t a gimmick. They don’t sacrifice comfort for color.
Highlights:
- Many colors (including pink)
- Smaller sized rolls compared to mega rolls
- Good quality paper – not thin or cheap
- Fresh scented
- Inner white layer
This would be great with guests or family events. The colors are deep and bright so you’ll definitely get comments!
Is Your Toilet Paper Part of The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) or Program For The Endorsement Of Forest Certification (PEFC)?
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is dedicated to responsible forestry management in order to ensure productivity and conservation. They provide economic incentives for land-owners to keep their property forested.
Similarly, the Program For The Endorsement Of Forest Certification is a global non-profit that promotes sustainable forest management and uses third-party certification to ensure trees are harvested sustainably.
Looking for these certifications when buying toilet paper might not be high on your priority list, however, we use a lot of toilet paper and it’s responsible to look for the SFI or PEFC Certification on the packaging. Buying from a company that is doing their part to protect the environment will give you peace of mind.
Conclusion
If you’re one of those people who purchase the cheapest toilet paper then you’re probably used to getting different quality. I never knew there were so many options of toilet paper until I started to read the packaging.
I realized there were multiple sizes (regular, double, mega etc.) and there were different ply (2 or 3-ply). I also learned that toilet paper has become smaller over the years as a way for companies to make more profit and reduce their environmental footprint.
One of the best things I’ve learned is about companies like Aria and Seventh Generation that are using recycled materials or planting new trees.
I enjoy hearing about programs that support nature and conservation. Even the bigger companies are often certified with forest management programs (Sustainable Forest Initiative) to hold the production process accountable.
In this article, we examined the best toilet paper on the market. We looked at:
- Softest toilet paper
- Strongest toilet paper
- Environmentally conscious toilet paper
- Vegan toilet paper
- Colored toilet paper
Some of the options are better values that others but all have great reviews and good reputations. Here at Toilet Travels, we hope you find the best toilet paper for your family. Thanks for stopping by.